Nutrition and Economic Development in the Eighteenth-Century Habsburg Monarchy

The book presents a novel perspective on Austria's industrial expansion by linking it to human biology and nutrition, particularly physical stature and population dynamics. It highlights a significant Malthusian crisis in the Habsburg lands during the late 18th century due to food shortages from rapid population growth. This crisis prompted government reforms that catalyzed Austria's industrial revolution. Komlos introduces an "Austrian model" of economic growth, emphasizing the balance between capital accumulation and population pressures, suggesting that the removal of food constraints was crucial for modern economic development in Europe.